Neighbourhood planning

Find out about neighbourhood planning and the current and proposed neighbourhood plans. There is also a step-by-step guide and useful links to find out more.

Page Contents:

What is neighbourhood planning?

Neighbourhood planning was introduced through the Localism Act in 2011 and gives communities the opportunity to shape and define how their area should grow and change in the future. In Northumberland, this must be led by parish councils.

There are two main parts to neighbourhood planning:
  1. Neighbourhood development plans;
  2. Neighbourhood development orders (including community right to build orders).
These can be combined or used individually.

Neighbourhood development plans
These are usually simply referred to as ‘neighbourhood plans’.  In Northumberland, they are created by parish or town councils and set out planning policies for the development and use of land in their area. These can be either general or site specific policies and cannot block development already agreed through the Northumberland Local Plan.

Once a neighbourhood plan is in force, planning decisions for that area must be taken in accordance with its policies, as well as those set out in the Northumberland Local Plan.

Neighbourhood development orders
These are prepared in a similar way to neighbourhood plans. They grant permission for development without the need for further planning applications. They can grant planning permission for an individual development or for types of development across a whole neighbourhood area. So far there has been very limited use of neighbourhood development orders but but they have real potential especially when carried out in parallel with the preparation of a neighbourhood plan. For example, if a neighbourhood plan allocated sites for a particular type of development, a development order could be employed to grant permission for those uses.

A community right to build order is a special kind of NDO, granting planning permission for small, community development schemes, such as housing or new community facilities.
There are five main stages in creating a neighbourhood plan (NDP) or order (NDO).

Stage one: area designation
Neighbourhood planning activity can only take place in areas specifically designated ‘neighbourhood areas’. The Parish Council must submit an area designation application to the County Council.

Stage two: preparing the NDP or NDO
The way in which NDPs / NDOs are prepared will be decided by the parish council. In most cases, a steering group will be established to lead preparation of a plan or order.

For an NDP, this stage would typically involve: gathering information about the neighbourhood area, and engaging with the community to identify local aspirations and priorities; identifying a vision for the neighbourhood area;  setting out a clear purpose for a plan including identifying or objectives to be achieved through the plan; drafting planning policies to help deliver the objectives of the plan; and seeking a screening from the County Council to determine if the plan would require strategic environmental assessment and habitats regulations assessment.

For an NDO, this stage would be fairly similar and would involve: gathering information about the neighbourhood area, and engaging with the community to identify whether there is a need for an NDO and the kinds of development that it should permit; drafting an NDO proposal; and seeking a screening from the County Council to determine if the order would require environmental impact assessment.

Once prepared, the draft plan or order must be subject to a six-week period of consultation (Regulation 14). This will include consulting national bodies as set out in the Neighbourhood Planning Regulations. Following the consultation period, representations must be considered and any amendments thought to be necessary must be made to the plan or order before it is submitted to the County Council.

Stage three: submit the plan or order
Once the plan or order has been submitted to the County Council, we will check it meets legal requirements.
The submission must include:
  • a map of the area
  • the draft plan
  • a statement outlining how the proposal meets the ‘basic conditions’ (see below)
  • a consultation statement setting out who was consulted and how, the issues raised and how these were resolved
This information will be publicised for a minimum of six weeks and any comments submitted will be sent directly to the independent examiner.

Stage four: independent examination
The independent examination will consider whether the plan or order meets the 'basic conditions' as set out in legislation (paragraph 8(2) of Schedule 4B to the Town and Country Planning Act 1990). 
 
A neighbourhood plan or order meets the Basic Conditions if:
  • having regard to national policies and advice contained in guidance issued by the Secretary of State, it is appropriate to make the plan / order;
  • the making of the neighbourhood plan / order contributes to the achievement of sustainable development;
  • the making of the neighbourhood plan / order is in general conformity with the strategic policies contained in the development plan for the area;
  • the making of the neighbourhood plan / order does not breach, and is otherwise compatible with, EU obligations; and
  • the making of the neighbourhood plan / order does not breach the requirements of Chapter 8 of Part 6 of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017
The examiner will produce a report detailing their findings and make recommendations about the draft plan or order including whether it should be put to referendum in the local area.

Stage five: referendum
The County Council will publish the examiner’s report and, where recommended, we will organise a local referendum. For the plan or order to be adopted, it must receive majority support from the local community. If more than 50% vote in favour, the County Council must bring it into force.
Parish councils are encouraged to seek advice in the early process of their plan development. We have a duty to support parish and town councils who decide to prepare neighbourhood plans or orders. We will:
  • allocate a planning officer from the planning policy team to provide one-to-one support and technical advice throughout the production of the neighbourhood plan or order
  • provide advice to ensure neighbourhood plans and orders meet the legal requirements and they are in general conformity with the Northumberland Local Plan
  • organise the independent examination of the plan or order
  • organise the referendum
For further information and advice please contact the neighbourhood planning team:
Telephone: 0345 600 6400
Email: NeighbourhoodPlanning@northumberland.gov.uk  

Alternatively, write to:
Neighbourhood Planning & Infrastructure
Planning Services
Northumberland County Council
County Hall
Morpeth
Northumberland
NE61 2EF
A detailed step-by-step guide to neighbourhood planning has been produced by Locality and is available here.

In addition, the County Council has produced a series of advice notes covering key aspects of neighbourhood planning. These are available to download below. 
 

Neighbourhood Planning News

Here you will find the latest news and government updates about neighbourhood planning including the ongoing response to COVID-19.

These brief newsletters aim to help those involved and interested in neighbourhood planning keep up to date with news, activity and any important changes in neighbourhood planning both nationally and locally.
The government recently confirmed that elections will be held in May.  This means that the County Council will now be able to plan to hold referendums on neighbourhood plans after current restrictions are formally lifted. 

The following referendums are scheduled to take place this summer.  
  • Hexham - 6 May 2021
  • Embleton, Lesbury, Wooler, Craster and Alnmouth - 10 June 2021
 
The government has been clear that all members of society are required to adhere to guidance to help combat the spread of coronavirus. The guidance has implications for neighbourhood planning and publicity and consultation will require a different approach. We have therefore prepared a short briefing note on the matter for town and parish councils.
As you may be aware, the government has recently consulted on proposed reforms to the Planning System. These proposals are set out in the White Paper: Planning for the Future. 

The current proposals confirm that Neighbourhood Planning will be retained. The government wishes to continue and indeed spread their use. They also want communities to be supported to make better use of digital tools. There may be changes to the content of future neighbourhood plans: the government is considering whether they should become more focused, to reflect proposals for reforms to Local Plans. In essence the intention is to simplify Local Plans; a key headline is that Local Plans would identify three types of land – Growth areas suitable for substantial development, Renewal areas suitable for development, and areas that are protected. 
 
In relation to Neighbourhood Plans, the government asked two questions:
 
13(a). Do you agree that Neighbourhood Plans should be retained in the reformed planning system?
 
13(b). How can the neighbourhood planning process be developed to meet our objectives, such as in the use of digital tools and reflecting community preferences about design?

Our responses to these questions are available here. The County Council's response to the full White Paper is available here. 

If you have any queries, which the Council's Neighbourhood Planning team may assist with, please get in touch.

Neighbourhood Planning Team
Telephone: 0345 600 6400
The Additional Grant and technical support criteria has been extended to support designated neighbourhood forums, and groups based in deprived areas (where 30% or more of the neighbourhood area or population is in the 20% most deprived areas in England in accordance with the Index of Multiple Deprivation).

The offer of additional grant is also backed up by some direct support from consultants engaged through the government's neighbourhood planning support programme. Further information is available via the Locality website.

Neighbourhood plans in Northumberland

Information on current neighbourhood plans and plans in preparation can be viewed below.

If you would like to know where neighbourhood areas have been designated and where neighbourhood development plans are in preparation, please view the neighbourhood plans map by clicking on the link below.
Designation of neighbourhood area
An application by Acklington Parish Council to designate the civil parish of Acklington as a neighbourhood area was approved by Northumberland County Council on 7 February 2018.

Details of this application and the decision can be found below:

Formal 'making' of the Acomb Neighbourhood Plan
Following the successful referendum, the Acomb Neighbourhood Plan was formally 'made' at a meeting of the Council's Cabinet on 12 February 2019.

Now that the neighbourhood plan is formally 'made', it becomes part of the statutory development plan. Consequently, decisions on whether or not to grant planning permission in the Acomb neighbourhood area will need to be made in accordance with the plan, unless material considerations indicate otherwise.
A decision statement confirming that the Plan has been made and brought into legal force has now been published. This is available via the link below:

The final Acomb Neighbourhood Plan and policies map can be viewed by clicking on the links below:


Result of Referendum
A referendum on the Acomb Neighbourhood Plan was held on Thursday 10 January 2019. The declaration of result is set out below: Referendum
The Acomb Neighbourhood Plan referendum is to be held on Thursday 10 January 2019 between 7am and 10pm. The Notice of Referendum and Notice of Poll (including situation of Polling Stations) can be found below: Approval for Referendum
The Acomb Neighbourhood Plan has successfully been passed by an independent examiner; the Plan will now proceed to a local referendum. It is expected that the Referendum will be held on 10 January 2019. The Specified Documents are available below: Independent examination
The independent examination of the Acomb Neighbourhood Plan has been completed. The report of the Independent Examiner was published on 10 October 2018.  Publicity of submission draft Plan 
Acomb Parish Council, as the qualifying body for the purposes of neighbourhood planning for the Acomb neighbourhood area, have submitted the Acomb Neighbourhood Plan to the County Council for Independent Examination. 

The County Council is satisfied that the submission is complete and complies with legal requirements. The Plan will now proceed to independent examination. 

In accordance with the regulations, the County Council is required to publicise the plan and supporting documents and to invite comments. Copies of the Plan and supporting documents will be available for public inspection for six weeks commencing Monday 2nd July 2018 until 4pm on Monday 13th August 2018.

Any person or organisation may comment on the Plan or supporting documents. Representations may be made by email to NeighbourhoodPlanning@northumberland.gov.uk or by post to: Acomb Neighbourhood Plan, Neighbourhood Planning and Infrastructure Team, Planning Services, County Hall, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 2EF.

The Plan and supporting documents can be found below: Designation of neighbourhood area
An application by Acomb Parish Council to designate the civil parish of Acomb as a 'neighbourhood area' was approved by Northumberland County Council on 17 November 2015 following a period of publicity between 9 October 2015 and 9 November 2015.

Details of this application and the decision can be found below:
Designation of neighbourhood area
An application by Adderstone with Lucker Parish Council to designate the civil parish of Adderstone with Lucker as a neighbourhood area was approved by Northumberland County Council on 8 May 2018.

Details of this application and the decision can be found below:
Formal ‘making’ of Allendale neighbourhood development plan
Following the successful referendum, the Allendale neighbourhood development plan was formally 'made' at a full council meeting on 1 July 2015. The period for legal challenge against the referendum results has now lapsed and no challenge was made.

Now the neighbourhood plan is formally 'made', it becomes part of the statutory development plan for Northumberland. Consequently, decisions on whether or not to grant planning permission in the Allendale neighbourhood area will need to be made in accordance with the plan, unless material considerations indicate otherwise.

The final Allendale neighbourhood plan and supporting documents are set out below: The parish council submitted a neighbourhood planning application to make the parish a neighbourhood area in 2012 and this was approved in January 2013. Consultation on submission plan
Allendale Parish Council submitted their proposed plan to Northumberland County Council and this was publicised from 17 October to 28 November 2014. The comments submitted during this publicity period were passed to the person appointed to carry out the independent examination of the proposed plan. Independent examination
This has now been completed and concludes that the plan may proceed to referendum subject to minor modification.  Northumberland County Council has accepted the examination report and the minor notifications to the plan recommended by the examiner. We consider the version of the neighbourhood development plan for referendum meets the basic conditions. Referendum
On Thursday 26 March 2015, a referendum was held to establish the level of community support for the plan. All residents within the parish who are entitled and registered to vote were able to participate. The referendum asked the following question:

"Do you want Northumberland County Council to use the neighbourhood plan for Allendale to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?"

The majority voted ‘yes’ and so Northumberland County Council will now make the plan and bring it into force. You can find out more about the referendum here: You can review other documents relating to the plan here: Strategic environmental assessment screening opinion
This screening opinion on the Allendale neighbourhood plan is available by clicking here and hard copies are available to view at County Hall, Morpeth, during office hours.

Further information of the Allendale neighbourhood development plan can be viewed here. 
Formal 'making' of the Alnmouth Neighbourhood Plan
Following the successful referendum, the Alnmouth Neighbourhood Plan was formally 'made' at a meeting of the Council's Cabinet on 13 July 2021.
 
Now that the neighbourhood plan is formally 'made', it becomes part of the statutory development plan. Consequently, decisions on whether or not to grant planning permission in the Alnmouth Neighbourhood Area will need to be made in accordance with the plan, unless material considerations indicate otherwise.
 
A decision statement confirming that the Plan has been made and brought into legal force has now been published. This is available via the link below:  
The final Alnmouth Neighbourhood Plan can be viewed by clicking on the link below:
Result of Referendum
A referendum on the Alnmouth Neighbourhood Plan was held on Thursday 10 June 2021. The declaration of result is set out below:
 
Notice of Referendum
The Alnmouth Neighbourhood Plan referendum is to be held on Thursday 10 June 2021 between 7am and 10pm. The Notice of Referendum and Notice of Poll (including situation of Polling Stations) can be found below: 
Referendum
The County Council has considered the recommendation made by the independent examiner and has agreed to accept this. This action has been agreed with Alnmouth Parish Council. Considering COVID-19 and updated government regulations the Alnmouth Neighbourhood Plan will now proceed to a local referendum on 10 June 2021.  The Plan will now be given significant weight in decision making.
 
The Referendum version of the Plan and related documents are available below:

Independent Examination
The independent examination of the Alnmouth Neighbourhood Plan has been completed. The report of the Independent Examiner was published on 30 December 2020.
Chris Collison was appointed to carry out the independent examination of the draft plan. This began on Monday 21 December 2020.

Submission draft Plan
Alnmouth Parish Council, as the qualifying body for the purposes of neighbourhood planning for the Alnmouth Neighbourhood Area, have submitted the Alnmouth Neighbourhood Plan to the County Council for Independent Examination. The County Council is satisfied that the submission is complete and complies with legal requirements.
 
In accordance with the regulations, the County Council is required to publicise the plan and supporting documents and to invite comments. Copies of the Plan and supporting documents will be available for public inspection for eight weeks commencing Thursday 22 October 2020 and ending at 5pm on Friday 18 December 2020.
 
Any person or organisation may comment on the Plan or supporting documents. Representations may be made by email to NeighbourhoodPlanning@northumberland.gov.uk or by post to: Alnmouth Neighbourhood Plan, Neighbourhood Planning and Infrastructure Team, Planning Services, County Hall, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 2EF.
 
The Plan and supporting documents can be found below:

Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Screening Report
Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is a way of ensuring the environmental implications of policies are taken into account before plans are brought into force. The need for environmental assessment of plans and programmes is set out in legislation.
 
The County Council provided a screening opinion regarding the need for strategic environmental assessment. This concludes that SEA is not required for the Alnmouth Neighbourhood Plan.

The final screening report relating to the Alnmouth Neighbourhood Plan is available via the link below: 
Designation of neighbourhood area
An application by Alnmouth Parish Council to designate the civil parish of Alnmouth as a neighbourhood area was approved by Northumberland County Council on 15 October 2019.

Details of this application and the decision can be found below:
Formal 'making' of the Alnwick and Denwick neighbourhood plan
Following the successful referendum, the Alnwick and Denwick neighbourhood plan was formally 'made' at a meeting of the Council's Cabinet on 27 July 2017.

A decision statement confirming that the Plan has been made and brought into legal force has now been published. This is available via the link below:
Now that the neighbourhood plan is formally 'made', it becomes part of the statutory development plan. Consequently, decisions on whether or not to grant planning permission in the Alnwick and Denwick neighbourhood area will need to be made in accordance with the plan, unless material considerations indicate otherwise.

The final Alnwick and Denwick neighbourhood plan and proposals maps can be viewed by clicking on the links below:
Result of Referendum
A Referendum on the Alnwick and Denwick Neighbourhood Plan was held on Thursday 15th June 2017. The declaration of results is set out below:
Referendum
The Alnwick and Denwick neighbourhood plan referendum is to be held on Thursday 15th June 2017 between 7am and 10pm. The Notice of Poll can be found below:
Approval for Referendum
Alnwick Town Council, together with Denwick Parish Council, has prepared the third neighbourhood plan in the County which has successfully been passed by an independent examiner; the Plan will now proceed to a local referendum.

An independent examiner has looked at the Plan and confirmed that it satisfies all legal requirements. The county council considered the recommendations made by the independent examiner and proposed to accept some of the recommendations and to make further modifications to the Plan. The county council notified persons previously consulted about the Plan and those who made representations on the submission version of the Plan.

The Referendum version of the Plan and a number of supporting documents are available below:
Post-examination modifications
The county council has considered the recommendations made by the independent examiner and proposes to accept some of the recommendations and to make further modifications to the Plan.

The county council is required to notify persons previously consulted about the Plan and those who made representations on the submission version of the Plan. The changes proposed to policies are set out in the notification document below. A revised Proposals Map and Inset Map are also included below.
Independent examination
An independent examination of the Alnwick and Denwick neighbourhood plan has now been completed.  The county council will consider the recommendations made by the independent examiner in discussion with the town and parish councils before deciding whether the plan should progress to referendum.  
Consultation on submission plan
Alnwick Town Council, in partnership with Denwick Parish Council, submitted their proposed neighbourhood development plan to Northumberland County Council. This was publicised from 9 October 2015 to 23 November 2015.
The written comments submitted during that publicity period were passed to the person appointed to carry out the independent examination of the proposed plan.
The Submission Draft Plan and supporting documents can be found below:
Neighbourhood area application
Alnwick Town Council submitted an application for the parishes of Alnwick and Denwick, which was approved in April 2013. Details can be found below:

Neighbourhood area designation application
Following a formal boundary review which was approved by Northumberland County Council and which came into force on 1 April 2021, the parish boundary of Belford has been modified to incorporate the former civil parish of Easington. This new neighbourhood area will replace the area previously approved on 22 September 2015.

Belford Parish Council applied to the County Council seeking designation of the parish as a new neighbourhood area. The application was approved by Northumberland County Council on 20 May 2021. Details of this application and the decision can be found below:

Berwick-upon-Tweed Town Council applied to Northumberland County Council to designate the civil parish of Berwick-upon-Tweed as a neighbourhood area, with the express purpose of preparing a neighbourhood development plan.

A six-week period of publicity took place between 29 June 2015 and 29 July 2015.

Details of this application can be found below: If you want to make comments on the proposed neighbourhood area you can submit comments by: Alternatively,
Strategic Planning and Housing
Northumberland County Council
County Hall
Morpeth
Northumberland
NE61 2EF

Comments must have been received by Northumberland County Council on or before 27 July 2015.
Designation of Neighbourhood Area
An application by Broomhaugh and Riding Parish Council to designate the civil parish of Broomhaugh and Riding as a Neighbourhood Area was approved by Northumberland County Council on 21 October 2020.

Details of this application and the decision can be found below:
Neighbourhood area designation application
Choppington Parish Council applied to Northumberland County Council to designate the civil parish of Choppington as a neighbourhood area, with the express purpose of preparing a neighbourhood development plan.
The application was approved by Northumberland County Council on 16 October 2017. Details of this application and the decision can be found below:
Corbridge Parish Council applied to Northumberland County Council to designate the civil parish of Corbridge as a neighbourhood area, with the express purpose of preparing a neighbourhood development plan.

The application was approved by Northumberland County Council on 25 April 2018. Details of this application and the decision can be found below:
Formal 'making' of the Cramlington Neighbourhood Plan

Following the successful referendum, the Cramlington Neighbourhood Plan was formally 'made' at a meeting of the Council's Cabinet on 10 March 2020.

Now that the neighbourhood plan is formally 'made', it becomes part of the statutory development plan. Consequently, decisions on whether or not to grant planning permission in the Cramlington Neighbourhood Area will need to be made in accordance with the plan, unless material considerations indicate otherwise.

A decision statement confirming that the Plan has been made and brought into legal force has now been published. This is available via the link below:   The final Cramlington Neighbourhood Plan and policies map can be viewed by clicking on the links below: In line with the requirements of the Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations 2004, the Council has prepared a Regulation 16 Adoption Statement for the Cramlington Neighbourhood Plan.
Result of Referendum
A referendum on the Cramlington Neighbourhood Plan was held on Thursday 30 January 2020. The declaration of result is set out below:
Notice of Referendum
The Cramlington Neighbourhood Plan referendum is to be held on Thursday 30 January 2020 between 7am and 10pm. The Notice of Referendum and Notice of Poll (including situation of Polling Stations) can be found below: Referendum
The County Council has considered each of the recommendations made by the independent examiner and has agreed to accept the recommendations.  This action has been agreed with Cramlington Town Council.  The Plan, as modified, will now proceed to a local referendum on 30 January 2020.

The Referendum version of the Plan and related documents are available below: Independent Examination
The independent examination of the Cramlington Neighbourhood Plan has been completed. The report of the Independent Examiner was published on 16 September 2019.

Click here to view the report following Independent Examination: During the Examination, the County Council and Cramlington Town Council received a letter relating to questions for clarification from the Independent Examiner on 05 August 2019. This letter and the responses can be viewed below:
Representations about Land at West Hartford

Representations associated with and in response to the Examiner's questions about Land at West Hartford.  Publicity of submission draft Plan 
Cramlington Town Council, as the qualifying body for the purposes of neighbourhood planning for the Cramlington neighbourhood area, have submitted the Cramlington Neighbourhood Plan to the County Council for Independent Examination. 

The County Council is satisfied that, following the receipt of an erratum note to the Consultation Statement, the submission is complete and complies with legal requirements. The Plan will now proceed to independent examination. 

In accordance with the regulations, the County Council is required to publicise the plan and supporting documents and to invite comments. Copies of the Plan and supporting documents will be available for public inspection for six weeks commencing Friday 7 June 2019 and ending at 5pm on Friday 19 July 2019. 

Hard copies of the documents are available to view at County Hall from 9am - 5pm Monday to Thursday and 9am - 4:30pm on Friday. Hard copies of the documents are also available to view at Cramlington Library (inside Cramlington Leisure Centre), Forum Way, Cramlington, NE23 6YB from 9am - 6pm Monday to Friday and 9:30am - 1pm on Saturday.

Any person or organisation may comment on the Plan or supporting documents. Representations may be made by email to NeighbourhoodPlanning@northumberland.gov.uk  or by post to: Cramlington Neighbourhood Plan, Neighbourhood Planning and Infrastructure Team, Planning Services, County Hall, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 2EF.

The Plan and supporting documents can be found below:
 

Strategic environmental assessment (SEA) screening report
Strategic environmental assessment (SEA) is a way of ensuring the environmental implications of policies are taken into account before plans are brought into force. The need for environmental assessment of plans and programmes is set out in legislation.
 
The county council provided a screening opinion regarding the need for strategic environmental assessment. The final screening report relating to the Cramlington neighbourhood plan is available to download via the link below:  Paper copies can be obtained at the county council offices at County Hall, Morpeth, during office hours. 

Neighbourhood plan
The Cramlington neighbourhood plan area was designated in Feburary 2014 after a period of publicity. Details of the neighbourhood area designation application and decision are available below: Progress with neighbourhood plan preparation
Formal 'making' of the Craster Neighbourhood Plan
Following the successful referendum, the Craster Neighbourhood Plan was formally 'made' at a meeting of the Council's Cabinet on 13 July 2021.
 
Now that the neighbourhood plan is formally 'made', it becomes part of the statutory development plan.
Consequently, decisions on whether or not to grant planning permission in the Craster Neighbourhood Area will need to be made in accordance with the plan, unless material considerations indicate otherwise.
 
A decision statement confirming that the Plan has been made and brought into legal force has now been published. This is available via the link below:  
The final Craster Neighbourhood Plan can be viewed by clicking on the link below:

Result of Referendum
A referendum on the Craster Neighbourhood Plan was held on Thursday 10 June 2021. The declaration of result is set out below:
 

Notice of Referendum
The Craster Neighbourhood Plan referendum is to be held on Thursday 10 June 2021 between 7am and 10pm. The Notice of Referendum and Notice of Poll (including situation of Polling Stations) can be found below: 
Referendum
Considering COVID-19 and updated government regulations the Craster Neighbourhood Plan, as modified, will now proceed to a local referendum on 10 June 2021. The County Council has considered each of the recommendations made by the independent examiner and has agreed to accept these with the exception of one minor wording change. This concerns a recommendation by the Examiner to include the words ‘Throughout the parish of Craster’ within the text of the policy. The County Council consider that the policy as worded, and the supporting text as amended, is sufficiently clear in this respect and for this reason, it is not considered necessary to make this minor change to the policy wording to meet the basic conditions. This action has been agreed with Craster Parish Council. The Plan will now be given significant weight in decision making.

The Referendum version of the Plan and related documents are available below:
Independent Examination
The independent examination of the Craster Neighbourhood Plan has been completed. The report of the Independent Examiner was published on 30 October 2020. The publicity period for the Submission Draft Craster Neighbourhood Plan ended on Friday 2 October 2020. Rosemary Kidd was appointed to carry out the independent examination of the draft Plan. The examination commenced in week beginning Monday 12 October 2020.
Submission draft Plan
Craster Parish Council, as the qualifying body for the purposes of neighbourhood planning for the Craster Neighbourhood Area, have submitted the Craster Neighbourhood Plan to the County Council for Independent Examination. The County Council is satisfied that the submission is complete and complies with legal requirements.

In accordance with the regulations, the County Council is required to publicise the plan and supporting documents and to invite comments. Copies of the Plan and supporting documents will be available for public inspection for eight weeks commencing Thursday 6 August 2020 and ending at 5pm on Friday 2 October 2020.

Any person or organisation may comment on the Plan or supporting documents. Representations may be made by email to NeighbourhoodPlanning@northumberland.gov.uk  or by post to: Craster Neighbourhood Plan, Neighbourhood Planning and Infrastructure Team, Planning Services, County Hall, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 2EF.

The Plan and supporting documents can be found below: Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Screening Report
Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is a way of ensuring the environmental implications of policies are taken into account before plans are brought into force. The need for environmental assessment of plans and programmes is set out in legislation.
 
The County Council provided a screening opinion regarding the need for strategic environmental assessment. This concludes that SEA is not required for the Craster Neighbourhood Plan.

The final screening report relating to the Craster Neighbourhood Plan is available via the link below: 
Designation of neighbourhood area
Following a formal boundary review which was approved by Northumberland County Council and which came into force on 1 April 2021, the parish boundary of Craster has been modified: the boundary change consists of the transfer of a small area of land from Craster Parish to Longhoughton Parish. This new neighbourhood area replaces the area previously approved on 29 January 2019.
 
Craster Parish Council applied to the County Council seeking designation of the parish as a new neighbourhood area. The application was approved by Northumberland County Council on 30 June 2021. Details of this application and the decision can be found below:
Designation of neighbourhood area
An application by Eglingham Parish Council to designate the civil parish of Eglingham as a neighbourhood area was approved by Northumberland County Council on 31 May 2019.
 
Details of this application and the decision can be found below:

Neighbourhood Area designation application
Ellingham Parish Council applied to designate the civil parish of Ellingham as a neighbourhood area, with the express purpose of preparing a neighbourhood plan.

The application was approved on 25 April 2016 following a period of publicity between 18 March 2016 and 18 April 2016.

Details of this application can be found below:

Neighbourhood Area designation application
Ellington and Linton Parish Council applied to Northumberland County Council to designate the civil parish of Ellington and Linton as a neighbourhood area, with the express purpose of preparing a neighbourhood plan.

The application was approved on 22 March 2016 following a period of publicity between 19 February 2016 and 21 March 2016.

Details of this application can be found below:
Formal 'making' of the Embleton Neighbourhood Plan
Following the successful referendum, the Embleton Neighbourhood Plan was formally 'made' at a meeting of the Council's Cabinet on 13 July 2021.
 
Now that the neighbourhood plan is formally 'made', it becomes part of the statutory development plan. Consequently, decisions on whether or not to grant planning permission in the Embleton Neighbourhood Area will need to be made in accordance with the plan, unless material considerations indicate otherwise.
 
A decision statement confirming that the Plan has been made and brought into legal force has now been published. This is available via the link below:  
The Embleton Neighbourhood Plan and policies maps can be viewed by clicking on the links below:
In line with the requirements of the Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations 2004, the Council has prepared a Regulation 16 Adoption Statement for the Embleton Neighbourhood Plan.
 

Result of Referendum
A referendum on the Embleton Neighbourhood Plan was held on Thursday 10 June 2021. The declaration of result is set out below:
 

Notice of Referendum
The Embleton Neighbourhood Plan referendum is to be held on Thursday 10 June 2021 between 7am and 10pm. The Notice of Referendum and Notice of Poll (including situation of Polling Stations) can be found below:
Referendum
Considering COVID-19 and updated government regulations the Embleton Neighbourhood Plan, as modified, will now proceed to a local referendum on 10 June 2021. The County Council has considered each of the recommendations made by the independent examiner and has agreed to accept these with the exception of a minor change to Policy 1 which is required to ensure that, having regard to paragraph 84 of the National Planning Policy Framework, it is appropriate to make the Plan. This action has been agreed with Embleton Parish Council. The Plan will now be given significant weight in decision making.
 
The Referendum version of the Plan and related documents are available below:
Independent Examination
The independent examination of the Embleton Neighbourhood Plan has been completed. The report of the Independent Examiner was published on 18 March 2020.

Click here to view the report following Independent Examination The publicity period for the Submission Draft Embleton Neighbourhood Plan ended on Friday 31 January 2020. Chris Collison has been appointed to carry out the independent examination of the draft Plan. This began on Monday 17 February 2020. The County Council and Embleton Parish Council received a letter relating to questions for clarification from the Independent Examiner on 4 March 2020. This letter and the responses can be viewed below:   Publicity of submission draft Plan
Embleton Parish Council, as the qualifying body for the purposes of neighbourhood planning for the Embleton Neighbourhood Area, has submitted the Embleton Neighbourhood Plan to Northumberland County Council for Independent Examination.

In accordance with the regulations, the County Council is required to publicise the plan and supporting documents and to invite comments.

Since the commencement of the original consultation, modification has been made to the Habitats Regulations Assessment. A revised version of the Habitats Regulations Assessment is now available to view below.
 
The County Council is satisfied that the submission is complete and complies with legal requirements. The Plan will now proceed to independent examination.

Having regard to the requirements of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012, the Council is extending the publicity period until 5pm on Friday 31 January 2020. Copies of the Plan and supporting documents will be available for public inspection during this period. Any person or organisation wishing to comment on the Plan or supporting documents must submit their written representations by 5pm on Friday 31 January 2020.

Representations may be made by email to NeighbourhoodPlanning@northumberland.gov.uk  or by post to: Embleton Neighbourhood Plan, Neighbourhood Planning and Infrastructure Team, Planning Services, County Hall, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 2EF.

The Plan and supporting documents can be found below:
Strategic environmental assessment (SEA) screening
Strategic environmental assessment (SEA) is a way of ensuring that the environmental implications of policies are taken into account before plans are brought into force. The need for environmental assessment of plans and programmes is set out in legislation.

The county council is required to provide a screening opinion to establish whether strategic environmental assessment is required for neighbourhood plans. The final screening report relating to the Embleton Neighbourhood Plan is available to download via the link below:
Neighbourhood area designation application
Embleton Parish Council applied to Northumberland County Council to designate the civil parish of Embleton as a neighbourhood area, with the express purpose of preparing a neighbourhood development plan.

The application was approved by Northumberland County Council on 24 July 2017.

Details of this application and the decision can be found below:
Designation of neighbourhood area
An application by Felton Parish Council to designate the civil parish of Felton as a neighbourhood area was approved by Northumberland County Council on 20 March 2019.
 
Details of this application and the decision can be found below:
Designation of neighbourhood area
An application by Hauxley Parish Council to designate the civil parish of Hauxley as a neighbourhood area was approved by Northumberland County Council on 25 March 2019.
 
Details of this application and the decision can be found below:
Designation of neighbourhood area
An application by Haydon Parish Council to designate the civil parish of Haydon as a neighbourhood area was approved by Northumberland County Council on 8 June 2018.

Details of this application and the decision can be found below: The proposed neighbourhood area crosses the administrative boundaries of Northumberland County Council and the Northumberland National Park Authority. For this reason, an application has also been made by the parish council to the Park Authority for the neighbourhood area to be designated. The Park Authority has agreed that the County Council will be the lead authority to handle neighbourhood planning in Haydon Parish.
Formal 'making' of the Hexham Neighbourhood Plan
Following the successful referendum, the Hexham Neighbourhood Plan was formally 'made' at a meeting of the Council's Cabinet on 13 July 2021.
 
Now that the neighbourhood plan is formally 'made', it becomes part of the statutory development plan. Consequently, decisions on whether or not to grant planning permission in the Hexham Neighbourhood Area will need to be made in accordance with the plan, unless material considerations indicate otherwise.
 
A decision statement confirming that the Plan has been made and brought into legal force has now been published. This is available via the link below:  
The final Hexham Neighbourhood Plan and policies map can be viewed by clicking on the links below:
In line with the requirements of the Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations 2004, the Council has prepared a Regulation 16 Adoption Statement for the Hexham Neighbourhood Plan.
 
Result of Referendum
A referendum on the Hexham Neighbourhood Plan was held on Thursday 6 May 2021. The declaration of result is set out below:

Notice of Referendum
The Hexham Neighbourhood Plan referendum is to be held on Thursday 6 May 2021 between 7am and 10pm. The Notice of Referendum and Notice of Poll (including situation of Polling Stations) can be found below: 
Referendum
Considering COVID-19 and updated government regulations the Hexham Neighbourhood Plan, as modified, will now proceed to a local referendum on 6 May 2021. The County Council has considered each of the recommendations made by the independent examiner and has agreed to accept the recommendations.  This action has been agreed with Hexham Town Council. The Plan will now be given significant weight in decision making.

The Referendum version of the Plan and related documents are available below: 

Independent Examination
The independent examination of the Hexham Neighbourhood Plan has been completed. The report of the Independent Examiner was published on 14th January 2020. Click here to view the examiner's report

Consultation on second addendum to Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Environmental Report

In May 2019, Northumberland County Council publicised the Regulation 16 Submission version of the Hexham Neighbourhood Plan. The Plan was supported by an SEA Environmental Report (September 2018) and Addendum (February 2019). A further addendum to that report has now been produced (October 2019), taking account of concerns raised with the original Environmental Report.

The examination of the Hexham Neighbourhood Plan was paused at the request of Hexham Town Council to allow time to clarify questions raised by the Independent Examiner, including concerns raised on the SEA process.

The purpose of this consultation is to seek the views of statutory and public consultees on the Environmental Report, Second Addendum, October 2019, only, as set out in Regulation 13(2) of the SEA Regulations 2004.
Any person or organisation may comment on the Second Addendum, Oct 2019.

The relevant documents are available to view below:
Comments can be made either by e-mail to neighbourhoodplanning@northumberland.gov.uk or by post to Hexham Neighbourhood Plan SEA, Neighbourhood Planning and Infrastructure, Planning Services, County Hall, Morpeth, NE61 2EF by 5pm on Friday 15 November 2019, which is 21 days from the start of this consultation.

Publicity of submission draft Plan
Hexham Town Council, as the qualifying body for the purposes of neighbourhood planning for the Hexham neighbourhood area, have submitted the Hexham Neighbourhood Plan to Northumberland County Council for Independent Examination.

Northumberland County Council is satisfied that the submission is complete and complies with legal requirements. The Plan will now proceed to Independent Examination.

In accordance with the regulations, the County Council is required to publicise the plan and supporting documents and to invite comments. Copies of the Plan and supporting documents will be available for public inspection for six weeks commencing Monday 13 May 2019 until 4pm on Monday 24 June 2019.

Any person or organisation may comment on the Plan or supporting documents. Representations may be made by email to NeighbourhoodPlanning@northumberland.gov.uk or by post to: Hexham Neighbourhood Plan, Neighbourhood Planning and Infrastructure Team, Planning Services, County Hall, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 2EF.

The Plan and supporting documents can be found below:

Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) screening
The purpose of a HRA is to assess possible effects of the plan or policy on the nature conservation interests of sites designated under the Habitats and Wild Birds Directives. The integration of the HRA process as part of the preparation of the Neighbourhood Plan is fundamental to the plan making process as policies in the plan can potentially affect designated sites.

As the ‘competent authority’ under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017, the county council is required to assess its policies and plans through the Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) process. The final screening opinion is available below:
Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) screening
Strategic environmental assessment (SEA) is a way of ensuring the environmental implications of policies are taken into account before plans are brought into force. The need for environmental assessment of plans and programmes is set out in legislation.
 
The county council is required to provide a screening opinion to establish whether strategic environmental assessment is required for neighbourhood plans. The final screening report relating to the Hexham Neighbourhood Plan is available below: 
Neighbourhood Area designation application
Hexham Town Council applied to designate the civil parish of Hexham as a neighbourhood area, with the express purpose of preparing a neighbourhood plan.

The application was approved on 22 April 2015 following a period of publicity between 9 January and 20 February 2015. 

Details of this application can be found below: Further information on the Hexham neighbourhood plan can be found via the Hexham neighbourhood plan website.
Designation of neighbourhood area
An application by Hexhamshire Parish Council to designate the civil parish of Hexhamshire as a neighbourhood area was approved by Northumberland County Council on 18 February 2020.
 
Details of this application and the decision can be found below:
Formal 'making' of the Lesbury Neighbourhood Plan
Following the successful referendum, the Lesbury Neighbourhood Plan was formally 'made' at a meeting of the Council's Cabinet on 13 July 2021.
 
Now that the neighbourhood plan is formally 'made', it becomes part of the statutory development plan. Consequently, decisions on whether or not to grant planning permission in the Lesbury Neighbourhood Area will need to be made in accordance with the plan, unless material considerations indicate otherwise.
 
A decision statement confirming that the Plan has been made and brought into legal force has now been published. This is available via the link below:  
The Lesbury Neighbourhood Plan and policies maps can be viewed by clicking on the links below:
In line with the requirements of the Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations 2004, the Council has prepared a Regulation 16 Adoption Statement for the Lesbury Neighbourhood Plan.
 
Result of Referendum
A referendum on the Lesbury Neighbourhood Plan was held on Thursday 10 June 2021. The declaration of result is set out below:
 
Notice of Referendum
The Lesbury Neighbourhood Plan referendum is to be held on Thursday 10 June 2021 between 7am and 10pm. The Notice of Referendum and Notice of Poll (including situation of Polling Stations) can be found below:
Referendum
Considering COVID-19 and updated government regulations the Lesbury Neighbourhood Plan, as modified, will now proceed to a local referendum on 10 June 2021. The County Council has considered each of the recommendations made by the independent examiner and has agreed to accept these. This action has been agreed with Lesbury Parish Council.  The Plan will now be given significant weight in decision making.

The Referendum version of the Plan and related documents are available below:
Independent Examination
The independent examination of the Lesbury Neighbourhood Plan has been completed. The report of the Independent Examiner was received on 23 June 2020.  The Council will consider each of the recommendations and confirm the action it intends to take in due course.

Click here to view the report following Independent Examination The publicity period for the Submission Draft Lesbury Neighbourhood Plan ended on Monday 10 February 2020. Terry Heselton has been appointed to carry out the independent examination of the draft Plan. This started on Monday 23 March 2020. During the Examination, the County Council and Lesbury Parish Council received an update to the examination and questions for clarification from the Independent Examiner on 8th April 2020. This update, the clarification questions and the combined response from the County Council and the Parish Council can be viewed below: 
Publicity of submission draft Plan
Lesbury Parish Council, as the qualifying body for the purposes of neighbourhood planning for the Lesbury Neighbourhood Area, has submitted the Lesbury Neighbourhood Plan to Northumberland County Council for Independent Examination.

In accordance with the regulations, the County Council is required to publicise the plan and supporting documents and to invite comments.

Since the commencement of the original consultation, modification has been made to the Habitats Regulations Assessment. A revised version of the Habitats Regulations Assessment is now available to view below.
The County Council is satisfied that the submission is complete and complies with legal requirements. The Plan will now proceed to independent examination.

Having regard to the requirements of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012, the Council is extending the publicity period until 5pm on Monday 10 February 2020. Copies of the Plan and supporting documents will be available for public inspection during this period. Any person or organisation wishing to comment on the Plan or supporting documents must submit their written representations by 5pm on Monday 10 February 2020.

Any person or organisation may comment on the Plan or supporting documents. Representations may be made by email to NeighbourhoodPlanning@northumberland.gov.uk  or by post to: Lesbury Neighbourhood Plan, Neighbourhood Planning and Infrastructure Team, Planning Services, County Hall, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 2EF.

The Plan and supporting documents can be found below: Neighbourhood area designation application
Lesbury Parish Council applied to Northumberland County Council to designate the civil parish of Lesbury as a neighbourhood area, with the express purpose of preparing a neighbourhood development plan.

The application was approved by Northumberland County Council on 24 July 2017.

Details of this application and the decision can be found below:
Publicity of submission draft Plan
Longframlington Parish Council, as the qualifying body for the purposes of neighbourhood planning for the Longframlington Neighbourhood Area, has submitted the Longframlington Neighbourhood Plan to Northumberland County Council for Independent Examination.

The County Council is satisfied that the submission is complete and complies with legal requirements. The Plan will now proceed to independent examination.

In accordance with the regulations, the County Council is required to publicise the plan and supporting documents and to invite comments. Copies of the Plan and supporting documents will be available for public inspection for eight weeks commencing Tuesday 6 July 2021 and ending at 5pm on Tuesday 31 August 2021.

Any person or organisation may comment on the Plan or supporting documents. Representations may be made by email to NeighbourhoodPlanning@northumberland.gov.uk . The Plan and supporting documents can be found below: The following evidence base documents are also being made available:
Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Screening Report
Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is a way of ensuring the environmental implications of policies are taken into account before plans are brought into force. The need for environmental assessment of plans and programmes is set out in legislation.
 
The County Council provided a screening opinion regarding the need for strategic environmental assessment. This concludes that SEA is not required for the Longframlington Neighbourhood Plan.

The final screening report relating to the Longframlington Neighbourhood Plan is available via the link below: 
Designation of neighbourhood area
An application by Longframlington Parish Council to designate the civil parish of Longframlington as a neighbourhood area was approved by Northumberland County Council on 11 March 2019.
 
Details of this application and the decision can be found below:

Formal 'making' of the Longhorsley Neighbourhood Plan
Following the successful referendum, the Longhorsley Neighbourhood Plan was formally 'made' at a meeting of the Council's Cabinet on 09 October 2018.
A decision statement confirming that the Plan has been made and brought into legal force has now been published. This is available via the link below:

Now that the neighbourhood plan is formally 'made', it becomes part of the statutory development plan. Consequently, decisions on whether or not to grant planning permission in the Longhorsley neighbourhood area will need to be made in accordance with the plan, unless material considerations indicate otherwise.

The final Longhorsley neighbourhood plan and policies map can be viewed by clicking on the links below:


Result of Referendum
A Referendum on the Longhorsley Neighbourhood Plan was held on Thursday 23 August 2018. The declaration of results is set out below:

Referendum
The Longhorsley Neighbourhood Plan referendum is to be held on Thursday 23 August 2018 between 7am and 10pm. The Notice of Referendum and Notice of Poll can be found below:

Approval for Referendum
The Longhorsley Neighbourhood Plan has successfully been passed by an independent examiner; the Plan will now proceed to a local referendum.
Northumberland County Council considers that this Plan meets the necessary legal requirements. 
The Referendum version of the Plan and related documents are available below: Independent examination

The independent examination of the Longhorsley Neighbourhood Plan has been completed. The report of the Independent Examiner was published on 02 May 2018. 

During the Examination, the County Council received letters relating to procedural matters from the Independent Examiner on 09 March 2018 and 14 March 2018 respectively. These letters can be viewed below:
Publicity of submission draft Plan 
Longhorsley Parish Council, as a qualifying body for the purposes of neighbourhood planning for the Longhorsley neighbourhood area, have submitted the Longhorsley neighbourhood plan to the county council for independent examination. 

The county council is satisfied that the submission is complete and complies with legal requirements. The Plan will now proceed to independent examination. 

In accordance with the regulations, the county council is required to publicise the plan and supporting documents and to invite comments. Copies of the Plan and supporting documents will be available for public inspection for eight weeks commencing Friday 22 December 2017 until 4pm on Friday 16 February 2018.

Any person or organisation may comment on the Plan or supporting documents. Representations may be made by email to NeighbourhoodPlanning@northumberland.gov.uk or by post to: Longhorsley Neighbourhood Plan, Neighbourhood Planning and Infrastructure Team, Planning Services, County Hall, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 2EF.

The Plan and supporting documents can be found below:
Strategic environmental assessment (SEA) screening report
Strategic environmental assessment (SEA) is a way of ensuring that the environmental implications of policies are taken into account before plans are brought into force. The need for environmental assessment of plans and programmes is set out in legislation.

The county council is required to provide a screening opinion to establish whether strategic environmental assessment is required for neighbourhood plans. The final screening report relating to the Longhorsley Neighbourhood Plan is available to download via the link below:
Area designation
Longhorsley Parish Council’s application was approved on 30 September 2014 and details can be found below:
Designation of neighbourhood area
An application by Longhoughton Parish Council to designate the civil parish of Longhoughton as a neighbourhood area was approved by Northumberland County Council on 26 October 2018.

Details of this application and the decision can be found below:

Neighbourhood area designation application
Lowick Parish Council applied to Northumberland County Council to designate the civil parish of Lowick as a neighbourhood area, with the express purpose of preparing a neighbourhood development plan.

The application was approved by Northumberland County Council on 19 June 2015 following a period of publicity between 15 May 2015 and 12 June 2015.

Details of this application can be found below:

Rothbury Parish Council applied to Northumberland County Council to designate the civil parishes of Cartington, Rothbury, Thropton and Whitton & Tosson as a neighbourhood area.

The parish council is the qualifying body for the purpose of the application and their lead role has been endorsed by the three other parish councils included within the proposed neighbourhood planning area to be known as Mid Coquetdale.

The application was approved on 5 March 2015 following a period of publicity between 4 December 2014 and 29 January 2015. Details can be found below:  A steering group has been established to oversee the preparation of the plan. Work is still in the early stages and some early community consultation took place between 23 April and 22 May 2015 to gather views from the community on the issues the plan should look at.
Formal 'making' of the Morpeth neighbourhood plan
Following the successful referendum, the Morpeth neighbourhood plan was formally 'made' at a meeting of the Council's Cabinet on 10 May 2016.

A decision statement confirming that the Plan has been made and has been brought into legal force has now been published, which can be viewed by clicking on the link below:
Now the neighbourhood plan is formally 'made', it becomes part of the statutory development plan. Consequently, decisions on whether or not to grant planning permission in the Morpeth neighbourhood area will need to be made in accordance with the plan, unless material considerations indicate otherwise.

The final Morpeth neighbourhood plan and proposals maps can be viewed by clicking on the links below:
Result of referendum
A referendum on the Morpeth neighbourhood plan was held on Thursday 25 February 2016. The declaration of results is set out below:
Neighbourhood plan
Morpeth Town Council, in partnership with the neighbouring parish councils of Hebron, Hepscott, Mitford and Pegswood, has prepared a neighbourhood development plan.

Their proposed plan was submitted to us in 2015 and an independent examination was subsequently carried out. The plan will now proceed to a local referendum.

Further information is provided below.

Approval for referendum
An independent examiner has looked at the plan and confirmed that it satisfies all legal requirements. Amendments have been made to the plan in line with the recommendations of the examiner.

The plan will now proceed to local referendum, which will take place on Thursday 25 February 2016.

The referendum version of the plan and a number of supporting documents are available to view below:

Independent examination
The independent examination of the Morpeth neighbourhood development plan has now been completed. The examination report was published on 29 September 2015 and is available via the link below:

Consultation on submission plan
Morpeth Town Council, in partnership with Hebron, Hepscott, Mitford and Pegswood parish councils, submitted their proposed plan to Northumberland County Council and this was publicised from 19 June 2015 to 3 August 2015.

The written comments submitted during this publicity period were passed to the person appointed to carry out the independent examination of the proposed plan.

To view the submission version of the plan, click on the link below:

Neighbourhood area application
The Morpeth neighbourhood area was designated on 28 June 2013. All the details relating to this designation can be found below.

Strategic environmental assessment (SEA)
Strategic environmental assessment (SEA) is a way of ensuring the environmental implications of policies are taken into account before plans are brought into force. The need for environmental assessment of plans and programmes is set out in legislation.

Northumberland County Council is required to provide a screening opinion to establish whether strategic environmental assessment is required for neighbourhood plans. This screening opinion on the Morpeth neighbourhood plan is available by clicking on the link below: Hard copies are also available to view at County Hall, Morpeth, during office hours.

Morpeth neighbourhood plan website
Further information on the Morpeth neighbourhood development plan can be found on the Morpeth neighbourhood plan website.

Newbiggin-by-the-Sea Town Council applied to Northumberland County Council to designate the civil parish of Newbiggin-by-the-Sea as a neighbourhood area, with the express purpose of preparing a neighbourhood development plan.

The application was approved by Northumberland County Council on 07 February 2018.

Details of this application and the decision can be found below:
Neighbourhood Area designation application

Ord Parish Council, in partnership with Ancroft, Duddo, Holy Island, Horncliffe, Kyloe, Norham and Shoreswood parish councils, applied to designate these respective civil parishes as a neighbourhood area (to be known as 'Norham and Islandshire Neighbourhood Area'), with the express purpose of preparing a neighbourhood plan.

The application was approved on 14 June 2016 following a period of publicity between 22 April and 06 June 2016.

Details of the application can be found below:

Formal 'making' of the North Northumberland Coast neighbourhood plan
Following the successful referendum, the North Northumberland Coast neighbourhood plan was formally 'made' at a meeting of the Council's Cabinet on 10 July 2018.

A decision statement confirming that the Plan has been made and brought into legal force has now been published. This is available via the link below:

Now that the neighbourhood plan is formally 'made', it becomes part of the statutory development plan. Consequently, decisions on whether or not to grant planning permission in the North Northumberland Coastal Area neighbourhood area will need to be made in accordance with the plan, unless material considerations indicate otherwise.

The final North Northumberland Coast neighbourhood plan and policies maps can be viewed by clicking on the links below:


Result of Referendum
A Referendum on the North Northumberland Coast Neighbourhood Plan was held on Thursday 24 May 2018. The declaration of results is set out below:

Referendum
The North Northumberland Coast neighbourhood plan referendum is to be held on Thursday 24 May 2018 between 7am and 10pm. The Notice of Referendum and Notice of Poll can be found below:

Approval for Referendum
The North Northumberland Coast Neighbourhood Plan has successfully been passed by an independent examiner; the Plan will now proceed to a local referendum.
Northumberland County Council considers that this Plan meets the necessary legal requirements. The Plan will now proceed to local referendum, which will take place on Thursday 24 May 2018.

The Referendum version of the Plan and all specified documents are available below:

Hard copies of all of the above specified documents are also available for inspection at:

  • Northumberland County Council, County Hall, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 2EF, between the hours of 8.30am to 5.00pm Monday to Thursday; and 8.30am to 4.30pm on Friday;
  • The Hub, Seahouses Sports and Community Centre, Stone Close, Seahouses, Northumberland, NE68 7YL.


Independent Examination
The independent examination of the North Northumberland Coast Neighbourhood Plan has been completed. The report of the Independent Examiner was published on 22 February 2018. 

During the Independent Examination, the County Council and Qualifying Body had correspondence with the Independent Examiner in response to requests for clarification of some matters and confirmation of administrative procedures. This information is included below:


Publicity of submission draft Plan 
North Sunderland Parish Council, as a qualifying body for the purposes of neighbourhood planning for the North Northumberland Coastal Area neighbourhood area, submitted the North Northumberland Coast neighbourhood plan to the county council for independent examination in November 2017. 

In accordance with the regulations, the county council was required to publicise the plan and supporting documents and to invite comments. Copies of the Plan and supporting documents were available for public inspection for eight weeks between Wednesday 20 December and 4pm on Friday 09 February 2018.

The Submission Draft Plan and supporting documents can be found below:

Background documents supporting the Plan can be accessed via the following external link: 
http://www.seahouses.org/neighbourhood-plan/ 

Strategic environmental assessment (SEA) screening report
Strategic environmental assessment (SEA) is a way of ensuring that the environmental implications of policies are taken into account before plans are brought into force. The need for environmental assessment of plans and programmes is set out in legislation.

The county council is required to provide a screening opinion to establish whether strategic environmental assessment is required for neighbourhood plans. The final screening report is available below:


Neighbourhood Area designation application
North Sunderland Parish Council, in partnership with the parishes of Beadnell and Bamburgh applied for the North Northumberland coastal area to be designated as a neighbourhood area. 

All details on this application can be found below:
Formal 'making' of the Ponteland neighbourhood plan
Following the successful referendum, the Ponteland neighbourhood plan was formally 'made' at a meeting of the Council's Cabinet on 23 November 2017.

A decision statement confirming that the Plan has been made and brought into legal force has now been published. This is available via the link below:
Now that the neighbourhood plan is formally 'made', it becomes part of the statutory development plan. Consequently, decisions on whether or not to grant planning permission in the Ponteland neighbourhood area will need to be made in accordance with the plan, unless material considerations indicate otherwise.

The final Ponteland neighbourhood plan and proposals maps can be viewed by clicking on the links below:
Result of Referendum
A Referendum on the Ponteland Neighbourhood Plan was held on Thursday 28th September 2017. The declaration of results is set out below: Referendum
The Ponteland neighbourhood plan referendum is to be held on Thursday 28th September 2017 between 7am and 10pm. The Notice of Referendum and Notice of Poll can be found below: Approval for Referendum
The Ponteland Neighbourhood Plan has successfully been passed by an independent examiner; the Plan will now proceed to a local referendum.

An independent examiner has looked at the Plan and confirmed that it satisfies all legal requirements. The county council considered the recommendations made by the independent examiner and accepted all of the proposed modifications recommended by the examiner.

Northumberland County Council considers that this Plan meets the necessary legal requirements.  The Plan will now proceed to local referendum, which will take place on the 28th September 2017.

Further details regarding the forthcoming referendum will be published in due course. The Referendum version of the Plan and a number of supporting documents are available below:
Independent examination
An independent examination of the Ponteland neighbourhood plan has now been completed.  The county council will consider the recommendations made by the independent examiner in discussion with the town council before deciding whether the plan should progress to referendum.
Publicity of submission draft Plan 
Ponteland Town Council, as a qualifying body for the purposes of neighbourhood planning for the Ponteland neighbourhood area, have submitted the Ponteland neighbourhood plan to the county council for independent examination. 

The county council is satisfied that the submission is complete and complies with legal requirements. The Plan will now proceed to independent examination. 

In accordance with the regulations, the county council is required to publicise the plan and supporting documents and to invite comments. Copies of the Plan and supporting documents will be available for public inspection for six weeks commencing Friday 21 April until 4pm on Monday 5 June 2017.

Any person or organisation may comment on the Plan or supporting documents. Representations may be made by email to NeighbourhoodPlanning@northumberland.gov.uk or by post to: Ponteland Neighbourhood Plan, Neighbourhood Planning and Infrastructure Team, Planning Services, County Hall, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 2EF.

The Plan and supporting documents can be found below:
Neighbourhood area designation
An application for the designation of a neighbourhood area was submitted by Ponteland Town Council. This was subsequently approved by the county council in June 2013. All details can be found below:
Designation of Neighbourhood Area
An application by Rennington Parish Council to designate the civil parish of Rennington as a Neighbourhood Area was approved by Northumberland County Council on 15 June 2021.
 
Details of this application and the decision can be found below:
Result of Referendum
The referendum held in the Parish of Seaton Valley on 29 July 2021 returned a majority vote in favour of using the Plan to make decisions on planning applications.  The declaration of result is set out below:
 
Notice of Referendum
The Seaton Valley Neighbourhood Plan referendum is to be held on Thursday 29 July 2021 between 7am and 10pm. 
 

Referendum
The County Council has considered each of the recommendations made by the independent examiner and has agreed to accept these. This action has been agreed with Seaton Valley Parish Council.  The Seaton Valley Neighbourhood Plan, as modified, will now proceed to a local referendum on Thursday 29 July 2021.  The Plan will now be given significant weight in decision making.
 
The Referendum version of the Plan and related documents are available below:
 
 
Independent Examination
The independent examination of the Seaton Valley Neighbourhood Plan has been completed. The report of the Independent Examiner was published on 5 May 2021.
 
The publicity period for the Submission Draft Seaton Valley Neighbourhood Plan ended on Wednesday 31 March 2021. Tim Jones was appointed to carry out the independent examination of the draft Plan. 
Submission draft Plan
Seaton Valley Council, as the qualifying body for the purposes of neighbourhood planning for the Seaton Valley Neighbourhood Area, has submitted the Seaton Valley Neighbourhood Plan to the County Council for Independent Examination. The County Council is satisfied that the submission is complete and complies with legal requirements.
 
In accordance with the regulations, the County Council is required to publicise the plan and supporting documents and to invite comments. Copies of the Plan and supporting documents will be available for public inspection for eight weeks commencing Tuesday 2 February 2021 and ending at 5pm on Wednesday 31 March 2021.
 
Any person or organisation may comment on the Plan or supporting documents. Representations may be made by email to NeighbourhoodPlanning@northumberland.gov.uk  or by post to: Seaton Valley Neighbourhood Plan, Neighbourhood Planning and Infrastructure Team, Planning Services, County Hall, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 2EF.
 
The Plan and supporting documents can be found below:

Neighbourhood Area designation application
Following a formal boundary review which was approved by Northumberland County Council and which came into force on 28 January 2020, the parish boundary of Seaton Valley has been modified: the boundary change incorporates a small area of land from Blyth Parish to Seaton Valley Parish; and transfers a small area of land from Seaton Valley Parish into Blyth Parish. This new neighbourhood area replaces the area previously approved on 15 October 2015.

Seaton Valley Parish Council applied to the County Council seeking designation of the parish as a new neighbourhood area. The application was approved by Northumberland County Council on 08 June 2021. Details of this application and the decision can be found below:
 

Formal 'making' of the Stannington Neighbourhood Plan
Following the successful referendum, the Stannington Neighbourhood Plan was formally 'made' at a meeting of the Council's Cabinet on 11 September 2018.

A decision statement confirming that the Plan has been made and brought into legal force has now been published. This is available via the link below:

Now that the neighbourhood plan is formally 'made', it becomes part of the statutory development plan. Consequently, decisions on whether or not to grant planning permission in the Stannington neighbourhood area will need to be made in accordance with the plan, unless material considerations indicate otherwise.

The final Stannington neighbourhood plan and policies map can be viewed by clicking on the links below:

Result of Referendum
A Referendum on the Stannington Neighbourhood Plan was held on Thursday 19 July 2018. The declaration of results is set out below:

Referendum
The Stannington Neighbourhood Plan referendum is to be held on Thursday 19 July 2018 between 7am and 10pm. The Notice of Referendum can be found below:

Approval for Referendum
The Stannington Neighbourhood Plan has successfully been passed by an independent examiner; the Plan will now proceed to a local referendum.
Northumberland County Council considers that this Plan meets the necessary legal requirements. 
The Referendum version of the Plan and all specified documents are available below: Independent examination

The independent examination of the Stannington Neighbourhood Plan has been completed. The report of the Independent Examiner was published on 24 April 2018. 

During the Examination, the County Council received a letter relating to procedural matters from the Independent Examiner on 12 March 2018. This letter can be viewed below: Publicity of submission draft Plan 
Stannington Parish Council, as a qualifying body for the purposes of neighbourhood planning for the Stannington neighbourhood area, have submitted the Stannington neighbourhood plan to the county council for independent examination. 

The county council is satisfied that the submission is complete and complies with legal requirements. The Plan will now proceed to independent examination. 

In accordance with the regulations, the county council is required to publicise the plan and supporting documents and to invite comments. Copies of the Plan and supporting documents will be available for public inspection for eight weeks commencing Wednesday 20 December until 4pm on Friday 09 February 2018.

Any person or organisation may comment on the Plan or supporting documents. Representations may be made by email to NeighbourhoodPlanning@northumberland.gov.uk or by post to: Stannington Neighbourhood Plan, Neighbourhood Planning and Infrastructure Team, Planning Services, County Hall, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 2EF.

The Plan and supporting documents can be found below:
Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Screening Report
Strategic environmental assessment (SEA) is a way of ensuring the environmental implications of policies are taken into account before plans are brought into force. The need for environmental assessment of plans and programmes is set out in legislation.

The county council is required to provide a screening opinion to establish whether strategic environmental assessment is required for neighbourhood plans. The final screening report relating to the Stannington neighbourhood plan is available to download via the link below: 

Neighbourhood Plan
Stannington Parish Council submitted an application to designate the civil parish of Stannington as a neighbourhood area in September 2013 and was approved by Northumberland County Council in November 2013.

Details of this application and the decision can be found below: Further information on the Stannington parish neighbourhood plan can be found here. 
Withdrawal
Tarset and Greystead Parish Council informed Northumberland County Council and Naorthumberland National Park Authority of the withdrawal of the Tarset and Greystead Neighbourhood Development Plan from examination on 20 January 2017.

As a result the plan will not be proceeding to a referendum.

Independent examination
An independent examination of the Tarset and Greystead neighbourhood development plan has now been completed. We will consider the recommendations made by the independent examiner in discussion with the parish council and Northumberland National Park Authrority before deciding whether the plan should progress to referendum.  
Consultation on submission plan
Tarset and Greystead Parish Council submitted their proposed neighbourhood development plan to Northumberland County Council and Northumberland National Park Authority and this was publicised from 2 October 2015 to 16 November 2015. The written comments submitted during this publicity period have been passed to the person appointed to carry out the independent examination of the proposed plan.

To view the submission document, click on the link below:
Neighbourhood area application
Tarset and Greystead Parish Council submitted a neighbourhood area application in January 2013 and this was approved in March 2013. All the details on this application can be found below:

 

Referendum
The County Council has considered each of the recommendations made by the independent examiner and has agreed to accept these. This action has been agreed with Thirston Parish Council. The Thirston Neighbourhood Plan, as modified, will now proceed to a local referendum on Thursday 16 September 2021. The Plan will now be given significant weight in decision making.
 
The Referendum version of the Plan and related documents are available below:
Approval for Referendum
Following the outcome of the independent examination of the Thirston Neighbourhood Plan, Northumberland County Council confirms that the Plan may proceed to Referendum. Further details regarding the Referendum will be published in due course. The Council's Regulation 18 Decision Statement and Approval for Referendum Report can be found below.
Independent Examination
The independent examination of the Thirston Neighbourhood Plan has been completed. The report of the Independent Examiner was published on 18 June 2021. The publicity period for the Submission Draft Thirston Neighbourhood Plan ended on Monday 24 May 2021. Christopher Collison was appointed to carry out the independent examination of the draft Plan. The examination began on Tuesday 25 May 2021. A letter from the Independent Examiner seeking clarification on a number of questions was received by the County Council and Thirston Parish Council on 08 June 2021. The Independent Examiner's letter, together with the County Council and Parish Council's joint response to that letter, can be viewed below:
Submission Draft Plan
Thirston Parish Council, as the qualifying body for the purposes of neighbourhood planning for the Thirston Neighbourhood Area, has submitted the Thirston Neighbourhood Plan to the County Council for Independent Examination. The County Council is satisfied that the submission is complete and complies with legal requirements.
 
In accordance with the regulations, the County Council is required to publicise the plan and supporting documents and to invite comments. Copies of the Plan and supporting documents will be available for public inspection for eight weeks commencing Monday 29 March 2021 and ending at 5pm on Monday 24 May 2021.
 
Any person or organisation may comment on the Plan or supporting documents. Representations may be made by email to NeighbourhoodPlanning@northumberland.gov.uk or by post to: Thirston Neighbourhood Plan, Neighbourhood Planning and Infrastructure Team, Planning Services, County Hall, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 2EF.
 
The Plan and supporting documents can be found below:
Neighbourhood area designation application
Thirston Parish Council applied to Northumberland County Council to designate the civil parish of Thirston as a neighbourhood area, with the express purpose of preparing a neighbourhood development plan.

The application was approved by Northumberland County Council on 02 January 2018. Details of this application and the decision can be found below:
Neighbourhood area designation application

Tillside Parish Council applied to designate the civil parishes of Chatton, Chillingham and Lilburn as a neighbourhood area, with the express purpose of preparing a neighbourhood plan.

The application was approved on 17 May 2016 following a period of publicity between 30 March 2016 and 11 May 2016.

Details of this application can be found below:
Designation of neighbourhood area
An application by Warkworth Parish Council to designate the civil parish of Warkworth as a neighbourhood area was approved by Northumberland County Council on 21 February 2020.
 
Details of this application and the decision can be found below:
Neighbourhood Area designation application
West Bedlington Parish Council applied to Northumberland County Council to designate the civil parish of West Bedlington as a neighbourhood area, with the express purpose of preparing a neighbourhood plan.

The application was approved on 3 May 2016 following a period of publicity between 25 March 2016 and 25 April 2016.

Details of this application can be found below:

Formal 'making' of the Whittington Neighbourhood Plan
Following the successful referendum, the Whittington Neighbourhood Plan was formally 'made' at a meeting of the Council's Cabinet on 13 November 2018.

A decision statement confirming that the Plan has been made and brought into legal force has now been published. This is available via the link below:

Now that the neighbourhood plan is formally 'made', it becomes part of the statutory development plan. Consequently, decisions on whether or not to grant planning permission in the Whittington neighbourhood area will need to be made in accordance with the plan, unless material considerations indicate otherwise.
The final Whittington neighbourhood plan and policies map can be viewed by clicking on the links below:

Result of Referendum
A Referendum on the Whittington Neighbourhood Plan was held on Thursday 04 October 2018. The declaration of result is set out below:

Referendum
The Whittington Neighbourhood Plan referendum is to be held on Thursday 04 October 2018 between 7am and 10pm. The Notice of Referendum and Notice of Poll can be found below:

Approval for Referendum
The Whittington Neighbourhood Plan has successfully been passed by an independent examiner; the Plan will now proceed to a local referendum which will be held on Thursday 04 October 2018.
Northumberland County Council considers that this Plan meets the necessary legal requirements. 
The Referendum version of the Plan and all specified documents are available below: Independent examination

The independent examination of the Whittington Neighbourhood Plan has been completed. The report of the Independent Examiner was published on 05 July 2018. 


Publicity of submission draft Plan 
Whittington Parish Council, as a qualifying body for the purposes of neighbourhood planning for the Whittington neighbourhood area, have submitted the Whittington neighbourhood plan to the county council for independent examination. 

The county council is satisfied that the submission is complete and complies with legal requirements. The Plan will now proceed to independent examination. 

In accordance with the regulations, the county council is required to publicise the plan and supporting documents and to invite comments. Copies of the Plan and supporting documents will be available for public inspection for six weeks commencing Friday 09 March 2018 until 4pm on Monday 23 April 2018.

Any person or organisation may comment on the Plan or supporting documents. Representations may be made by email to NeighbourhoodPlanning@northumberland.gov.uk or by post to: Whittington Neighbourhood Plan, Neighbourhood Planning and Infrastructure Team, Planning Services, County Hall, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 2EF.

The Plan and supporting documents can be found below:
Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Screening Report
Strategic environmental assessment (SEA) is a way of ensuring the environmental implications of policies are taken into account before plans are brought into force. The need for environmental assessment of plans and programmes is set out in legislation.

The county council is required to provide a screening opinion to establish whether strategic environmental assessment is required for neighbourhood plans. The final screening report relating to the Whittington neighbourhood plan is available to download via the link below: 


Neighbourhood area designation application
Whittington Parish Council applied to Northumberland County Council to designate the civil parish of Whittington as a neighbourhood area, with the express purpose of preparing a neighbourhood development plan.

The application was approved by Northumberland County Council on 02 March 2016 following a period of publicity between 29 January and 29 February 2016.

Details of this application and the decision can be found below:
Result of Referendum
A referendum on the Wooler Neighbourhood Plan was held on Thursday 10 June 2021. The declaration of result is set out below:
 
Notice of Referendum
The Wooler Neighbourhood Plan referendum is to be held on Thursday 10 June 2021 between 7am and 10pm. The Notice of Referendum and Notice of Poll (including situation of Polling Stations) can be found below: 
Referendum
The County Council has considered each of the recommendations made by the independent examiner and has agreed to accept these. This action has been agreed with Wooler Parish Council and the Northumberland National Park Authority.  The Wooler Neighbourhood Plan, as modified, will now proceed to a local referendum on 10 June 2021. The Plan will now be given significant weight in decision making.

The Referendum version of the Plan and related documents are available below: Independent Examination
The independent examination of the Wooler Neighbourhood Plan has been completed. The report of the Independent Examiner was published on 26 May 2020.

Click here to view the report following Independent Examination The publicity period for the Submission Draft Wooler Neighbourhood Plan ended on Monday 30 March 2020. Rosemary Kidd was appointed to carry out the independent examination of the draft Plan. The examination began on Friday 20 March 2020. Northumberland County Council, Wooler Parish Council and the Northumberland National Park Authority prepared responses to the Independent Examiner's Questions and Clarification note. These responses can be viewed below:
Publicity of submission draft Plan
Wooler Parish Council, as the qualifying body for the purposes of neighbourhood planning for the Wooler Neighbourhood Area, has submitted the Wooler Neighbourhood Plan to Northumberland County Council for Independent Examination.

The County Council is satisfied that the submission is complete and complies with legal requirements. The Plan will now proceed to independent examination.

In accordance with the regulations, the County Council is required to publicise the plan and supporting documents and to invite comments. Copies of the Plan and supporting documents will be available for public inspection for six weeks commencing Monday 17 February 2020 and ending at 5pm on Monday 30 March 2020.

Any person or organisation may comment on the Plan or supporting documents. Representations may be made by email to NeighbourhoodPlanning@northumberland.gov.uk  or by post to: Wooler Neighbourhood Plan, Neighbourhood Planning and Infrastructure Team, Planning Services, County Hall, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 2EF. The Plan and supporting documents can be found below: Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Screening Report
Strategic environmental assessment (SEA) is a way of ensuring the environmental implications of policies are taken into account before plans are brought into force. The need for environmental assessment of plans and programmes is set out in legislation.
 
The County Council provided a screening opinion regarding the need for strategic environmental assessment. This concludes that SEA is required for the Wooler Neighbourhood Plan.

The final screening report relating to the Wooler Neighbourhood Plan is available to download via the link below:  Designation of neighbourhood area
An application by Wooler Parish Council to designate the civil parish of Wooler as a 'neighbourhood area' was approved by Northumberland County Council on 23 November 2015 following a period of publicity between 9 October 2015 and 20 November 2015.

The proposed neighbourhood area crosses the administrative boundaries of Northumberland County Council and the Northumberland National Park Authority. For this reason, an application has also been made by the Parish Council to the Park Authority for the Neighbourhood Area to be designated. The Park Authority has agreed that the County Council will be the lead authority to handle neighbourhood planning in Wooler Parish.

Details of this application and the decision can be found below:

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Planning Services (Neighbourhood Planning) Privacy Notice

Everyone working for Planning (Neighbourhood Planning section) has a legal duty to keep and process
information about you in accordance with the law. The privacy notice, available below, explains why we ask for your personal information, how that information will be used and how you can access your records.

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